Apparatus for pumping liquids



AP1'i11,1930. F. A.- HATFIELD l 1,752,739

APPARATUS FOR PUMPING LIQUIDS Filed May 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l fr' N9 A TT ORNE YS i F. HATFIELD APPARATUS FOR PUMPING LIQUIDS April 1,1930.

Filgi May 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 Unirse:sTAri-:s Afl-#ENTR OFFICE FRANK A. HATFIELD, 0F LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA,` ASSIGNOR OF FIFTY-ONE PERA CENT TO WALDO H. LOGANANDFORTYLNINE BOTII 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA PER CENT TO EDSON R.WOLCOTT,

Y APQPARATUSI'FOR PUMPING LIQUIDS applicati@ inea "May 22,

This` invention relates to apparatus for pumping liquids andparticularlyto an apparatusl of the'general type described in patent to `Edson R'.lVolcott, No. 1,628,943, for pumping liquids' through considerablevertical heightsas in pumping oil vor other liquid from ywellsof'relatively great depth. 4Vhile the apparatus described in said patentand the-improvements thereof comprisingthe present invention areparticularly adapted for the pumping of oil from oil wells, the same mayalso be advantageously used Vfor pumping other liquids.

Thepumping apparatus described in said patent comprises an outer'casingor pipe eX- tending throughout the height oi the apparatus', partitions:at suitable intervals dividing the interior of said casing into aplurality ofpump chambers or stages locatedr contiguously one aboveanother, passage means for conducting liquid from the lower portionofeach pump chamber to thenext higher chamber and provided withv checkvalve` means for permitting only upward flow of liquid therethrough, twogas passage means Vextending substantially throughout the height' of thepump and communicating respectively with the. upper portions ofalternate pumpi chambers, and means for maintaining relatively high andlow pressures in the respective gas passage means and :tor

periodically reversing the relation between the pressures therein. Y

It will be seenr that with suchaiiarrangement, liquid iscontinuallydisplaced from with the gas passage in which relatively highpressure existsto the next higher chamber, which is in communicationwith the gas'l passage in which Vrelatively low pressure exists. `Whenthe conditions oi pressure in the respective gas passages are reversed,each chamber' which was filled with `liquid in the preceding period isemptied into a still higher chamber, and so on throughout the height ofthe pump. Liquid is drawn, or permitted to flow, into the lowermost pumpchamber through suitable inlet means provided with a checkvalveiduringeach period of relatively lowlpressuref therein, and is discharged from192s. seriaino. 279,631;

the uppermost pump chamber through suitable outlet means also providedwith a check valve during each period of relatively high pressuretherein. Y V

The principalobject of the present invention is to provide anadvantageous embodipumped, or of the working fluid (usually gasvora-ir), from one chamber to another or between any of said passages andpump chambers. Y

In the apparatus which Ihave inventedto accomplish the above objects,the outer casing is formed as a cylindrical pipe consisting oi' sectionssecured together by collar members in the usual manner of well casing ortubing; the successive liquid-conducting passagesV are combined in asingle cylindrical pipealso consisting ,of sections similarlysecuredvtogether, and extending within said outer pipe and provided withopening, means adjacent the bottom of each vpump chamber establishingycommunication with the pumpv chambers and with upwardly -opening checkvalves just above the respective 'opening means; and the twogas'fpassage means are also formed as cylindrical pipes consisting oilsections similarly secured together, and extendingv within said outerpipe andfeach provided with opening means adjacent the upperendsoi'alternate Apump chambers establishing Icommunication with said chambers;whilethe partitionslb'etween the several pump chambers are'iormcd bypartition plates extending transverselyof the outer pipeV and securedbetween adjacent-sections thereof 'at suitable intervals, said-partition plates having openings tliroughl which the C c: AU

(Sii

three inner pipes pass and being provided with gasket means which arepressed tight-ly in position to provide a liquid-tight fit between thepartition plates and the inner and outer pipes. The spaces inside theouter pipe and around the three inner pipes, and between successivepartition plates, constitute the several pump chambers. Y

A particular feature of the invention consists in the shapeV of gasketmeans provided for insuring a liquid-tight fit between the partitionplates and the inner pipes, and the manner in which the same arecompressed into position upon connection of the adjoining sections ofouter pipe, so as to be clamped tightly around the inner pipes and thusprevent relative movement of the inner pipes with respect to thepartition. The prevention of such relative movement is essential to themaintenance of the necessary liquid-tight fit at `these points. Toprovide this liquidtight connection, each of the partition means betweenadjacent pump chambers comprises two partition plates adapted to fitwithin the outer pipe or within a suitable coupling member securedthereto and `provided with openings to receive the inner pipes, andfsuch plates are provided with bevelled seats around said openings on theadjacent faces of the plates. Gasket rings, formed, for example, ofsuitable soft metal such as lead or copper, are provided,`fittingclosely around the respective inner pipes and within the spaces providedby the bevelled seats on said plates. Said gaskets are also bevelled ortapered to conform to the general direction of the bevelled seats on thepartitionplatea being thicker at their middle portions and taperinginwardly toward the respective pipes at each end, but the tapered facesof said gasket rings are preferably inclined at somewhat less angle tothe axes of the respecti've` pipes than the bevelled seats on thepartition plates, in order to provide a certain `wedging action `of thepartition plates on the gasket rings as hereinafter described. Shouldermeans are provided on suitable clamping members secured to the outerpipe, adapted to engage said partit-ion plates and force the sametogether upon tightening of said `clamping members, and thus press thegasket rings tightly into position around the respective inner pipes. z

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention and the type ofpumping apparatus to which it is intended to be applied, and referring ithereto Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section of the upper portionof a pumping apparatus such as shown .in the above mentioned patent ofEdson Wolcott and `to which the improvements of the present inventionare ap-v plicable.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of such pumpingapparatus.`

F ig. 3 is a side elevation partly broken away, of one stage of suchpumping apparatus.

Fig. i is a vertical section through the adjoining ends of two adjacentstages of the pump and the connecting and partition means therebetween,taken on line ll-et in Fig. 6.

Fic'. 5 is a similar View on line 5-5 in Fig. -6.`

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6--6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line 7-7 in Fig. @showing the partitionplates and gasket means in the positions they occupy before thepartition plates are squeezed together to press the gasket means intotight engagement with one of the inner pipes.

Fig. 8 is asimilar view i showing the gasket means pressed into finalposition by squeezing the partition plates together.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the pumping apparatus comprises essentiallyank outer casing 1 extending throughout the height thereof and partitionmeans 2 at suitable' intervals dividing the space within said casinginto a plurality of pump chambers or stages 3 located contiguously oneabove another, passage means 4 for conducting liquid from the lowerportion of each pump chamber to the next higher pump chamber, checkvalve means 5 located in the respective liquid con ducting passages andpreferably at or near the bottom thereof and adapted to permit onlyupward flow of liquid therethrough, and two rgaspassage means .7 and 8extending substantially throughout the height of the pump and providedat suitablepoi nts with openings placing the respective gas passagemeans in communication with alternate pump cham ber. For example, thegas passage means 7 is shown 'as provided with openings 9 communicatingwith the upper portion of the uppermoststage, the third stage down, andso on throughout the length of the apparatus, while the gas passagemeans8 is provided witlropenings l0 communicating with the second stage andwith every `alternate stage from there on down. In Fig. 2 the gaspassage means 8 is shown as opening at its lower end as at 10', directlyinto the lowermost pump chamber, while the gas passage means 7 is shownas opening at its lower end as at 9', directly into the next higher pumpchamber. Beneath the lowermost stage is provided any suitable length ofcasing l having openings or perforations ll for inflow of liquidthereto, and a liquid conducting passage if may ex tend down inside saidcasing and be provided with cheek valve 5 at its lower end, so thatliquid `may be forced up therethrough into the lowermost pump chamber 3during the low pressure interval therein.

The liquid conducting passage means 4 leading ,from the uppermost pumpchamber passages may may be connected to a.pipe 121cm. conducting awaythe liquiddelivered therethrough, while passage means 7, and 8 may beconnected through suitable',` manually or automatically controlled valvemeans to sources of relative ly highV and relatively low pressures,`whereby a condition of relatively high pressure and relatively lowpressure may be alternately created in the respective lgas .passages andhence in the pump chamber-'connected thereto. Such means 'for creatinghigh and .low press u'e inthe gas passages and `for controlling theduration oiieach period. of; high pressure and'l'ow pressureintherespective be substantially the same as shown in the abovementioned patent, or any other suitable means, including, for example,any form of properly timec rreciprocating or rotating valve, may beemployed for this pur-pose. rlhe valve mechanism may beoperatedbyelectric motor, or bya gas operated motor driven, forexample,- by portion of the same as is used for the pumping operation.`y

ln order to obtain maximum utilization of theavailable space withinthewell, and provide iior the maximum size ot working chambers and gasandliquid pas ages,the liquid means Sand gas'passagemeans i and epreferably disposed inside the outer casso that the pump chambersareprovided imr 1 by the spaces inside said und Jetween said-passagemeans. In practice some diihculty hasl heenfevxperiencedfin assemblingthe-,outer casing` y:and the several passage means, therein `Vandy atthesame time providing the necessary partition means 2 between theseveral pump chambers, in `such .nanner as topreyentleakage between rtherespective passagemeansandthe pump chambz-,i-gbetween the exterior of'the' casing` and the pump chambers,l and between successive pumpchambers, andgone of the main objects of the present invention ist-oprovide a simple means for overcoming thescidiiliculties.

l/Vhilein land @the passage-means Il', and 8- are shown as arrangedsubstantially in sangle plane, this is j* i erely for the purpose etdiagrammatic illustration, and in aractice it' is much more advantageousto arrange the passage-.means in a triangular relation to one another asshown yinthe remaining ligures of the drawings. f It will alsobegunderstfo-odthet the height of each stage orpumpE chamber muchgreater than represented inpropor on tenths diameters of the-casingmeans, and this tact is `indicated Figs-11 and 2 by breakingawayintermediate portions of each stage. Each stagey oi;- pump., chambernormally extends throughout a height oi several hundred Jfeet and as itisimpracticable to use individual sectional-ofi such-great hei-ght' eachstage, suchfas indicated at A. in` ismade up b3' ecnnectingitegetherplurality @t SectQuS casing andv around o1. inner and outer pipes.Thefouter casing in mi?,

.ll to 8 inclusive l will describe the meansfor securing together theend pipe sections .ofl adjacent stages of the pumping apparatus and forsecuring the partition and gasket means in position. The standard tubingcollar 13, which inthe usual oil well pump tubing is normally threadedon tothe upperend o each section of tubing, is removed from such normalposition and threaded on to the lower end of the pipe section` 101 whichis to be connected to the pipe then in the well. A snecial clampingcollar14c, having an inward:- ly projecting shoulder 15, is then.screwed on tothe upper end oi the pipe section101, which is the top'pipe section thenin position in the well. rlheinner pipesl 1,271 and 8,0r sections 10d, 107 and 108 thereof, are-under-A stood to be already inpositionwithinithe outer pipe sect-ion 101, with their upper endsprojecting above the upper. end of such outer A ipe section sullicientlyto receive thepartition plates and gasket means as hereinat-erdescribed.

A gasket ring 17 is then, preferably'placed on s ioulder 15,then'thedowerpartitionplate 18, gasket rings 1 9, 9.0 and 21,1andiupperpar,-

titionplate 22 are piacedon topA of. gasket ring.

1T and around the respective inner pipes, the

partition plates and gasket .rings being at this time approxi-mately infthe` positions in'- dicated for gasket-ring,19inzFiga7. The par-`titionplates 1S and'22 are both providedvvitli openings oiV sufficientsizeto permitv the same tobe slipped over the severalpipesections 10e',107 and 108 whilelitting fairly closely around the same andare alsoprovided with bevelled'seats 27'. around said openings and adjacent theupperfacefoi' partitionfplate 18' and the lower face-ot'partition-plate22 The gasket rings;19," 20 :and .21 aref of` s-uch diameter astoitclosely'around the pipe=sections 1041-', 107.I and108 lrespectivelyand are also bevelled or tapcredpon ytheirouter; faces -to conform tothe general direction of; the beve-lied seats omthe partition plates,

being thicker at their middleportionsand tapering inwardly towardgtherespective* pipesrat each end; l'lowever, asfshown in .Fig `7.thetapered faces ot said gasket rings are preferably `inclined at asomewhat lessV angleto` the. axis of the respective pipes than arethegbevfelled seats on they partition-y plates. A special clampingnipple 24 .having-y its: lowerend formed as a shoulder orv abutment'means 25 is .then screwcd. downjnsde .zthercollae 14.50

as` to squeeze the partition plates 18 and 22 together between theclamping member 24 and the shoulder 15 on the clamping member 14, andpress the gasket rings tightly into position around the respective innerpipes as shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 7 and'8 it will be seen that due to the lessinclination of the gasket rings than of the bevelled faces 27 of thepartition plates, said gasket rings are first engaged by the partitionplates at their respective extremities and a wedging action is thusexerted thereon which forces the metal of said gasket rings Aintoextemely tight engagement with the walls of the inner pipes and tends toforce such metal into the small spaces between the pipes and thepartition plates, and thus positively insures a tight fit at thesepoints. The downward pressure of shoulder 25 against the partitionplates not only serves to compress the gasket means 19, 20Aand 21between said plates, but also brings the lower plate 18 downtightlyagainst the gasket ring 17, thus providing a liquid-tight fit at theouter edges of the partition plates.

Additionalsections 107 and 108 of the two gas conducting passagesmaythen be secured in position above the partition means. In ordertoprovide communication, however, between the'liquid conducting passage 4and the pump chamber 3, above the partition plates, a short section ofperforated tubing 30 is preferably connected between adjacentsections104 and 104" of such liquid conductingI passage, and a specialcollar 31 provided with check yvalve 32 is also preferably insertedbetween perforated tubing and the next higher pipe section 104". Saidcheck valve is adapted to permit upward flow, while preventing downwardflow, of liquid in passage 4. The neXt higher outer pipe section 101,with collar 13 thereon, may then be screwed onto the nipple 24, and theconnection between stages is thus completed. It may be pointed out that,in orderto facilitate the connection of pipe sections 101, 104, 107 and108, the outer pipe section 101 is ordinarily brought into positionabove the piping already in the well, with the several inner pipesections 104, 107" and 108 supported loosely therein, so that after theinner. pipe sections are connected, the outer pipe sec-V tion may simplybe lowered into position. `I claim:

1.` In apparatus for handling iiuids, thel combination of an outer pipe,a plurality of inner pipes extending within said outer pipe,

two partition plates extending across the interior of said outer pipeand around said inner Vpipes and having bevelled seats at their adjacentfaces and around said inner pipes,

tapered gasket rings' disposed around the respective inner pipes andwithin the spaces provided between said bevelled seats and taperinginthe same general direction as said bevelled seats and clamping meanson said outer pipe and operable to clamp said partition plates togetherand compress said gasket means and cause tight engagement thereof withsaid inner pipes.

2. Aconstruction as set forth in claim 1, the tapered faces of saidgasket rings having a smaller inclination with respect to the axes ofthe several inner pipes than the corresponding bevelled seats on saidpartition plates.

3. In apparatus for pumping liquids, the combination of an outer casingcomprising a plurality of pipe sections secured together end to end,partition means disposed between adjacent pipe sections at suitableintervals anddividing the space within said outer casing into `aplurality of pump chambers, two gas conducting pipes extending withinsaid outer casing and substantially throughout the height thereof andprovided respectively with opening lmeans establishing communicationbetween said gas conducting pipes and the upper portions of alternatepump chambers, a liquid conducting pipe alsoextending within said outercasing and substantially throughout the height thereof and havingopening means establishing communication between the interior of saidliquid conducting pipe and the lower portions of the several pumpchambers and check valve means between successive opening means thereinand adapted to permit only upward flow of liquid therethrough, said gasand liquid conducting pipes each comprising a plurality of pipe sectionssecured togethed end to end, said partition means each comprising twoplates eX- tending one above the other entirely across the outer casingand provided with separate openings through which the several gas andliquid conducting pipes pass, gasket means held in position between thetwo plates of the respective partition means and around the several gasand liquid conducting pipes so as to substantially prevent leakagebetween adjacent pump chambers, and coupling means connecting togetherthe adjacent pipe sections of the outer casing at opposite sides of therespective partition means and serving to clamp the two plates of saidpartition means together and squeeze said gasket means tightly aroundthe several gas and liquid conducting pipes.

4. In'apparatus for pumping liquids the combination of a verticallyelongated outer casing, a continuous liquid conducting pipe and twocontinuous gas conducting pipes extending lwithin and substantiallythroughout the height of saidouter casing, partition means disposed atsuitable intervals throughout the height of said outer casing so as todivide the space inside said outer casing and around said inner pipesinto a plurality of pump chambers, each of said partition meanscomprising'two plates disposed one above the other and extending acrossthe interior of said outer casing and yaround said liquid and gasconducting pipes, Vgasketmeans held in position between the plates ofthe respective partition means and around the several in'- ner pipes toprevent leakage between adjacent pump chambers, and coupling meansconnecting together the portions of the outer casing above and below therespective partition means and serving to clamp the two plates of saidpartition means together and compress said gasket means tightly aroundthe several inner pipes, said liquid conducting pipe being provided withopening means establishing communication between the interior thereofand the lower por tions of the respective pump chambers and with checkvalve means between successive opening means and permitting only upward2c flow of liquid therethrough, and the respective gas conducting pipesbeing provided with opening means establishing communication betwen theinterior thereof and the upper portions of alternate pump chambers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name this 27 th davof April, 1928.

FRANK A. HATFIELD.

